This post is a collaboration with Hero Elementary, a PBS KIDS show that Lila has enjoyed watching since its premier. We are so excited for this partnership. All opinions are my own.
Last month I posted about one of Lila’s favorite PBS KIDS TV shows that we fully support: Hero Elementary. It’s about Super Students (Sparks’ Crew) that problem-solve through the use of science. The show encourages young kids to think like scientists, but also teaches characteristics like empathy and kindness. Like I said before, the bits of Spanish incorporated into the show are the icing on the cake for me. 🙂
In one of the newer January episodes, Fur Blur, the Hero Elementary hamster starts sleeping a lot more. Lila has talked about bears hibernating in the winter, but I don’t think either of us realized that other animals might also exhibit different characteristics with the weather change. This led to a conversation about how we also end up spending more time in our own habitat because it’s just a bit more uncomfortable outside – whether it’s because it’s rainy, cold, or both! So instead of going outside for a walk, observing different plants and flowers, or even blowing bubbles, we’ll be staying inside to partake in crafts! Different kinds of weather mean we can or can’t do certain activities, so we’ll save the bubbles for another day.
This month we have another Hero Elementary inspired project to share – and while it’s also snow related, it was inspired by Lila’s really cool kaleidoscope.
Giant Paper Bag Snowflake Materials:
6-8 paper bags per snowflake (we used 6 per snowflake)
Scissors (grown-up scissors and safety scissors)
Hot glue gun (for grown-up use only)
String/ribbon
The project is a lot easier than it looks! On the side of the lunch bag where the bottom is folded up, make a T with the hot glue, as shown with the white line in the image below.
Put another bag facing the same direction on top of the fresh glue. Be careful because the glue is still warm through the layers of lunch bag.
Make another T with the glue until you’ve used your 6-8 bags. Don’t glue the top-most bag yet.
Cut your pattern in the top one or two bags, and keep cutting it all the way down, following the edges of the previous cuts on the top pieces. If you are more particular you can always trace it and then cut, as well.
Once you’ve cut through all the bags, glue the back and front together so that you have a giant 3D snowflake. Be careful again, as the layers are a bit thinner on the final glue.
Cut a small slit through two sides that are touching and slip your ribbon through. Now you can hang the snowflakes!
We only had time to make two that afternoon, but I think 5 would make a room look so cool! Or even three around just our window.
As an elementary school librarian, I have become aware of the weather curriculum in science class. These episodes of Hero Elementary can be found on the PBS KIDS video app, as well as PBSKIDS.org, and would make a great hook or support lesson for sure. If I taught science, I might encourage kids to use some of their at-home-screen time to enjoy the show – they’re really informative!
Check your local listings to check out the show Hero Elementary on PBS KIDS with your kiddo(s), and also let me know how you and your family “hibernate.” 🙂
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hero Elementary.
I love this! Lila has such a smart and creative mommy. ⭐️
(And PBSKids.org is full of great info. There’s a properties of operations video using Skittles that’s just the BEST.)
Awesome! Thanks for the tip!